The genus Schiedea was described in 1826 by
Chamisso and Schlechtendal, based upon the
single species S. ligustrina. Successive botanists
made new discoveries in, and added more species
to, the genus. Lastly, Sherff (1945), published
a monograph of the genus, classifying
it into 19 species and 21 varieties, all endemic
in the Hawaiian Islands. Since then Sherff or
Degener and Sherff have added six more
varieties.